The European Respiratory Society Congress was held recently in Munich.The Congress has grown into undoubtedly the largest conference on respiratory health and lung problems in the world. Over 24000 healthcare professionals attended the conference which was held over 5 days in the International Congress Centre in Munich.The 2014 Primary Care Programme covered the topic of "Management of COPD and other respiratory conditions in clinical practice". Delegates take away from the Congress a deeper understanding of the latest scientific and clinical developments in the respiratory field.

This year the theme for the meeting was healthy lungs for life, which highlights the importance of breathing clean air (#breathecleanair). In parallel to the scientific meeting the European Respiratory Society Committee coordinated a number of public health and patient information initiatives throughout Munich. The European Lung Foundation (ELF) brings patients and healthcare professionals together to improve awareness around lung health. As part of the Healthy Lungs for Life (#healthylungsforlife) campaign lung testing and patient information talks were available in Munich's beautiful Odeonsplatz. Following on from this initiative The Irish Lung Health Alliance will be holding patient information sessions and lung testing in Dublin, Cork and Galway in September. A national roadshow will take place offering free lung testing alongside an interactive health and well-being exhibition -"BodyWorks on Tour" in partnership with the Glasgow Science Centre. More information available at http://bit.ly/1DdZody :

Galway - September 24, Aula Maxima, National University of Ireland, Galway.

Portlaosie - September 25, Parish Centre, Portlaoise.

Only 3% of delegates were GPs and Dr Nick Flynn, medical director of Union Quay Medical Centre, was privileged to be amongst them. Updates included information on e-cigarettes, smoking cessation, TB, COPD, asthma, lung cancer and other lung problems. Over the coming weeks Dr Flynn will post some updates on respiratory and lung related issues. The first of these will be on the growing phenomenon of electronic cigarettes or e-cigarettes.